Release Detail

March 9, 2004 - New Jersey Voters Back Taxes On Butts, Bad Drivers,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
But Voters Disapprove Of McGreevey And Overall Budget

New Jersey voters approve 65 - 32 percent of a proposal to hike the tax on cigarettes by 45
cents a pack, and voters approve 66 - 30 of a $200 surcharge on unsafe drivers, according
to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

But Gov. McGreevey still has a negative 38 - 47 percent approval rating, compared
to a negative 34 - 52 percent approval in a November 12 poll by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

Voters disapprove 58 - 31 percent of Gov. McGreevey's overall handling of the
budget and they also reject several of his major proposals, including:

"There has been a slight increase in Gov. McGreevey's approval rating, but for
the most part, New Jersey voters don't like what he is doing. Voters don't like his
budget; they don't like how he is handling the economy; they don't agree when he says
things are getting better and they particularly don't like how he is handling property
taxes," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.

"Voters approve of his tax hike on cigarettes and his surcharge on bad drivers,
mostly because they don't smoke or get caught for speeding, so they're not directly
impacted. They overwhelmingly reject his tax on petroleum products because they expect
to pay for it out of their own pockets in the end," Richards added.

Looking at the Governor's handling of issues:

Voters approve 44 - 42 percent of his handling of education;

Voters disapprove 56 - 33 percent of his handling of the economy and jobs;

Voters disapprove 67 - 20 percent of his handling of property taxes.

A total of 44 percent of New Jersey voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat
satisfied" with the way things are going in the Garden State, while 55 percent are
"dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied." The state's economy is "excellent" or "good," 44
percent say, as 54 percent say the economy is "not so good" or "poor."

Voters who say the economy is "not so good" or "poor" spread the blame around,
with 22 percent saying President George W. Bush is responsible; 27 percent blaming
McGreevey; 22 percent blaming former Gov. Christine Whitman and 15 percent blaming
the State Legislature.

"New Jersey voters are very concerned about the state's economy. A majority
think the economy is in bad shape and won't get better this year. But the Governor isn't
the only one who gets the rap; he shares the blame with his predecessor, Gov. Whitman,
the President and the legislature," Richards said.

From February 29 - March 7, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,210 New Jersey
registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and
nationally as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks or call (203) 582-5201.

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way James McGreevey is handling
his job as Governor?